Health Information

Keep Breastfeeding for Most Illnesses

• For most illnesses, keep breastfeeding. Reason: breast milk gives antibodies to your baby to help fight off germs.
• If you are too sick, you can pump to keep your milk supply up. Have someone else feed your baby the expressed milk.

Care Advice

1. Keep Breastfeeding for Most Illnesses:
   • Examples are when you have a cold, cough or diarrhea.
   • Keep nursing, even if you have a fever.
   • Reason: Breast milk carries your antibodies. These can protect your baby from the full-blown illness.
2. Use Good Hand Washing:
   • Try to prevent the spread of infection by good hand washing.
   • Do this after blowing your nose (for colds) or after stools (for diarrhea).
   • Wash your hands before you pick up your baby.
3. Medicines That Are Safe to Use While Breastfeeding:
   • It’s best to take your medicine(s) at the end of a feeding.
   • Pain or Fever: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen are safe to use in breastfeeding moms. Aspirin (325 mg) should not be used.
   • Decongestants: Do not use decongestants by mouth. They can reduce milk supply in some mothers. An example is Sudafed.
   • Nose Sprays: Nose sprays can be used. A decongestant spray (such as Afrin) is a safe choice while breastfeeding. Do not use for more than 3 days. A steroid nasal spray can also be used for a longer time. Saline nasal sprays are safe to use as needed for stuffy noses.
   • Allergy Meds: These drugs for allergy symptoms are OK during breastfeeding. Non-sedating allergy medicines (long-acting ones) are preferred. They can be given as needed once per day at bedtime. Do not use combination products with decongestants.
   • Cough Meds: Dextromethorphan (DM) is okay to use while nursing. Breastfed babies should be watched for sleepiness or poor feeding. Cough drops and honey are safe to use by moms for a cough. (Caution: Do not give honey to infants less than 1 year old).
   • Talk with your doctor or nurse about other medicines before using.
4. Stop Breastfeeding for these Medical Concerns:
   • There are few medical conditions in the mother when breastfeeding is not advised.
   • Some of these are:
   • AIDS
   • Herpes simplex rash (fever blisters) on the nipple/areola
   • Drug abuse
   • TB
   • Talk with your doctor.

Call Your Doctor If

• You become worse
• You think you need to be seen
• Your baby becomes sick
• You have other questions or concerns

Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP

Copyright 2000-2020 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC

Disclaimer: This health information is for educational purposes only. You the reader assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. The information contained in this handout should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. Listing of any resources does not imply an endorsement.

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